# Chapter 1728: A Difficult Decision
Ye Fan sat cross-legged there, not moving for an entire day and night. Finally, he opened his eyes, extremely exhausted.
Yes, his heart and mind were weary. He had thought as much as possible, but he truly had no feasible plan. Those were Supreme Beings. Even if he employed every scheme he had, he could not stop them.
He possessed the Devouring Demon Jar, he possessed the laws of the Immortal Bell, but could he withstand one Supreme Being? Could he withstand two or three? Even if he made a hundred arrangements, devised ten thousand schemes, set up killing formations, it would all be utterly useless.
In the face of absolute power, these things might appear as laughable as an ant trying to shake a tree in the eyes of those Supreme Beings. They could not stop their advance at all.
He now had secret techniques to conceal his aura, granting temporary safety. But once he underwent tribulation, he would inevitably be exposed. Three great tribulations would shake the entire universe, giving them three chances to kill him. Some Supreme Beings would not miss that opportunity.
In a word, this ant was strong enough now to begin catching the attention of the Supreme Beings!
Ye Fan had stepped onto the seventh heaven of the Quasi-Emperor realm, already very powerful, yet he felt an unprecedented weariness. The path ahead grew increasingly difficult, not easy to break through.
"My own death would not matter, but they... cannot be buried with me."
Ye Fan's strength had greatly increased, his blood energy was vigorous, his lifespan extended, yet several strands of white hair had appeared among his jet-black locks. He felt his spirit and heart were exhausted.
Along the way, he thought as he traveled, returning to the Heavenly Court. Looking at this home that was flourishing and seemed poised to become the strongest inheritance in the universe, his emotions were hard to calm.
All of this was the result of everyone's efforts. It should have been extremely glorious, yet in the future it might invite great disaster. If the Supreme Beings emerged, they would surely sweep everything clean.
"Is there no way?"
He had seen a corner of the future. One Underworld was already that terrifying, and now adding the Great Accomplishment Overlord Body and other Supreme Beings from the Forbidden Zones—how could he resist?
Ye Fan suddenly felt his body grow cold. The path ahead was difficult. No wonder the Great Emperors were mostly unfortunate. Not a single one had truly smiled in glory; they were all so solemn.
They had experienced joys and sorrows, partings and reunions. They had lost too much, paid an unimaginable price.
"Uncle is back." A sturdy, tiger-headed youth ran over, enthusiastically greeting him, and then a group of children from afar all rushed over.
This was Li Heishui's child, already over ten years old, very solidly built. Having consumed the Nine-Orifice Stone Man Divine Liquid since childhood, his bone structure was excellent, far surpassing his father.
"Uncle, did you bring us any gifts?" asked a fourteen or fifteen-year-old girl, the Savage's youngest daughter. She wore a beast-bone necklace, her hair braided into many small plaits, with strings of small bells made from Great Luo Silver Essence tied to them, swaying with divine radiance and tinkling melodiously.
These were the descendants of the Heavenly Court, each with exceptional talent. Any major power would be envious seeing them, because Ye Fan, Li Tian, Black Emperor, and others had spared no expense. After their birth, they had soaked them in the Heavenly Venerable Life Spring Divine Liquid, fed them the Nine-Orifice Divine Fetus Treasure Liquid, and even refined some essence from the Immortal Qilin Medicine and the Bodhi Tree into precious pills to build their foundations.
One could say that these dozens of children were the Heavenly Court's most precious treasure. They represented the future and hope.
"Coming and going in haste, I didn't prepare anything. Today, I'll teach you several great divine abilities and explain the Sun Immortal Scripture to you." Ye Fan smiled.
"Great! Uncle is going to teach the Dao. Come quickly!" The children cheered, immediately attracting more people. Many Heavenly Court members also came to listen to his lecture.
Ye Fan sat cross-legged on a green stone, with people seated below. Most were children, all wide-eyed, listening attentively.
Of course, there were also some mischievous little ones playing and laughing in the distance, running and jumping, very lively. Among them, two little ones were especially bold, climbing onto the green stone one after another. Little Nannan sat quietly, chin resting on her hands, relatively well-behaved. As for Little Zi, she was like a little monkey, climbing onto Ye Fan's body and smacking a kiss on his face, leaving a trail of saliva.
"Father, I missed you." She said coquettishly.
Watching her blink her big eyes, pretending to be very good, Ye Fan didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He couldn't scold her, so he just sat her down beside him and continued teaching the Dao.
The Heavenly Court was truly warm. All kinds of familial love, friendship... filled and intertwined the air, making one want to protect it with their life, not allowing anyone to trample or destroy it.
The children dispersed. The Bodhi tree's branches and leaves were emerald green, swaying with azure light. Fragments of laws scattered down, easily leading one into a state of enlightenment.
Ye Fan sighed softly and stood up.
"Ye Zi is back. Come, let's go drink! Haha, quite a few people have returned recently. Perfect time to drink our fill." Li Heishui and Dongfang Ye came running to drag him away.
"Haha, worth celebrating! Pang Bo's Quasi-Emperor realm has stabilized. He just came out of seclusion." Li Tian also laughed from afar.
"Good, let's go drink!" Ye Fan nodded.
When they gathered together, they naturally concocted all kinds of delicacies: Teng Snake soup, Golden Crow wings... everything imaginable, all ancient alien species they had slain in past battles.
The place was filled with the fragrance of meat and the aroma of wine.
Ye Fan, Yan Yixi, Pang Bo, Dongfang Ye, Li Heishui, and a large group sat together, passing cups and exchanging toasts, thoroughly enjoying themselves.
Before long, a group of little ones were all drooling. Both boys and girls came running, swarming in like a band of little bandits, scrambling for food.
Everyone burst into laughter.
"You little rascals, so young and already daring to steal wine! And you, Li Hu, why aren't you watching your sister? Letting a little girl drink too?"
"Hey, Little Zi, you little girl, only two or three years old, can barely walk, and you dare to sneak a drink like them?"
The adults were both exasperated and amused.
"Don't be so stingy. Little Zi is just tasting it." The little girl defended herself, then sneakily downed the whole cup, afraid of having it taken away. But as soon as she drank it, she stuck out her little tongue, shouting that it was too spicy and tasted bad.
"Nannan is the best behaved." Someone said.
She was the quietest, sitting obediently beside Ye Fan.
In the distance, barking sounds came. Black Emperor came running wildly, shouting that everyone was inconsiderate for not calling him.
"You were too busy, buried in the Phoenix Nest. We called you twice and you didn't hear."
Mountain Phoenix and other great demons, along with Dragon Horse, Golden Wing Great Peng King, and others, also came upon hearing the news. The drinking party instantly swelled, and finally many Heavenly Generals joined in.
"If I'm fine, then it's a sunny day. But I'm really not fine anymore. This damn Phoenix Nest is like a hornet's nest! Black Emperor Senior Uncle, have mercy on me!" Huahua screamed miserably. These days he had suffered quite a bit, his backside nearly beaten into eight pieces by Black Emperor.
When the laughter faded, when the wine wore off, Ye Fan sat cross-legged alone under the Bodhi tree again, still as a rock, withered as dead wood, not moving at all.
"Ye Zi has something on his mind. What difficulty did he encounter? He seems to be pondering a countermeasure."
"I think it must be very troublesome. With his current cultivation, he wouldn't be troubled by ordinary matters. It most likely involves the ancient Supreme Beings."
Pang Bo, Li Tian, Li Heishui, and this group knew him well. They immediately sensed something wrong and gathered to discuss.
Finally, they carried wine jars over and asked directly.
"Ye Zi, if something's wrong, speak up. Let's all think of a solution together. Don't let it turn your hair white alone. Our cultivation may not match yours, but we can at least offer ideas."
"That's right. Whatever it is, tell us. Let's share the burden. Don't carry everything yourself. Don't be so formal among friends."
...
A group of people looked at him. Each one was a close friend who had shared life and death, fought bloody battles against great enemies, and walked together to this day.
Ye Fan was deeply moved. He had only sunk into thought for a moment, showing a hint of abnormality, and they had noticed. He sighed and recounted his recent encounter.
"What? That old bastard the Overlord Body also made a move? Shameful! Going too far! He's not even human!"
"Look at his lack of ambition. A Great Accomplishment Overlord Body, and he attacks while Ye Zi is undergoing tribulation? Does he want to feed his old face to the dogs?"
"Woof! This Emperor warns you: you can mess up your food, but don't mess up your words!"
...
Ye Fan smiled. This group was always like this. Even facing such great difficulties, they could still laugh, lightening the atmosphere.
In the past, Ye Fan had never been afraid. As long as he was strong enough, he could shatter any enemy ahead. But now, it was unequal. The enemies were ancient Supreme Beings, each one once the strongest person of their era, undefeated throughout their lives.
"I've thought and thought again. There really is no way. The Heavenly Court is too big. In the future, it will inevitably invite devastating attacks because of me. I want to disband the Heavenly Court's forces, let them disperse, and gather again in the future."
When these words were spoken, everyone fell silent. The current Heavenly Court was unprecedentedly powerful. When an order was issued, all directions obeyed. It was now at its most glorious rising stage, yet they were about to cripple themselves like this, directly disbanding.
But they knew, though it was painful, Ye Fan was right. The best choice now was to let the various divisions of the Heavenly Court go into hiding first, waiting to reunite later.
"As for our children, I want to seal them. Let them reappear a hundred years later. I need a hundred years to fight desperately for a breakthrough. If I succeed, no one will dare to provoke my Heavenly Court. If I fail, my soul returns to the yellow earth, and the Supreme Beings won't care anymore." Ye Fan said.
The scene fell into an even deeper silence. No one spoke.
Finally, everyone nodded, silently agreeing to this decision. The final result was to seal the Heavenly Court for a hundred years. The Heavenly Soldiers and Heavenly Generals would remove their armor and return to civilian life, each going into hiding.
"I've failed you all, making everyone suffer along with me." Ye Fan said.
"What kind of talk is that? From now on, you'll have to fight alone with your life. If you succeed, the Heavenly Court will be glorious for ten thousand ages. If you fail, you alone will fall into eternal damnation. We brothers can't help with anything. All we feel now is helplessness and pain. Ye Zi, work hard yourself!"
"Don't say those things. In these hundred years, you will face two deadly tribulations. As for the third, you don't need to endure it. Two great accomplishments are enough. Ye Zi, remember: just survive. We ask for nothing else!"
...
These brothers who had shared life and death all showed their true feelings. No matter what, they wanted him to survive.
Crippling themselves, disbanding the Heavenly Court—this was a difficult decision. Its impact was too great, almost earth-shattering. Many might not understand.
"It's okay. We can definitely start over. When the time comes, we'll raise the Heavenly Court banner again. I think many Heavenly Soldier and Heavenly General brothers will return. They won't blame you." They comforted him.
"Father, what are you all doing? Why are everyone's eyes red?" Little Zi came running from afar.
These grown men naturally wouldn't shed tears in front of a little girl. But Ye Fan, thinking about having to personally seal Little Zi, parting from her like this, letting her fall into slumber, felt another pang of sorrow. She was still so young. If he failed, this would be the last time he saw his daughter.
And there were other things too. How was he going to face the Heavenly Court masses?
"I am so incompetent!" Ye Fan sighed, looking up at the sky.
"No, you are already strong enough. Among the ancient Great Emperors at your age, few had such cultivation." Black Emperor said.
Though the words were said, when Ye Fan walked out, step by step ascending the review platform, looking down at the dense army below, he found it hard to speak. His heart ached.
"Driven to this point... this day has come, leaving me powerless..." He murmured in his heart, looking at those faces. How could he announce this news?
Below the platform, there was a group of people with solemn expressions, very dignified, commanding respect—the old generals who had been with the Heavenly Court since its founding. There was also an endless sea of troops, with high fighting spirit and radiant expressions—the generation that had witnessed the Heavenly Court's glory. Another group showed slightly immature new faces, full of vitality, full of hope for the future—the Heavenly Court members who had just joined.
This scene made Ye Fan open his mouth but unable to speak. There was only bitterness.